I doubt that the Olympic committee listened to any conservative U.S. voices. And talking honestly about the political corruption in Chicago and Illinois, and worrying about how Obama's friends would spend tens of billions of dollars, is not "rooting against America." Rooting against America would be something along the lines of hoping that the Iraq surge failed and our troops came home in disgrace and failure, which was a uniquely Democratic and liberal phenomenon egged on by groups like Think Progress.

We didn't get the Olympics, or even get to the final round, because there was no logic to Chicago other than as a hat tip to Barack Obama. That is why President and Mrs. Obama put their personal prestige on the line to practically beg for the games. I did not think that Obama would risk his international reputation unless he knew we had the games in the bag, but I underestimated Obama's ability to persuade himself of his own persuasive powers.

President Obama's speech to the Olympic committee as quoted by Think Progress was a typical Obama speech, long on sop and emotion, short on details:

[Chicago is] a bustling metropolis with the warmth of a small town; where the world already comes together every day to live and work and reach for a dream — a dream that no matter who we are, where we come from; no matter what we look like or what hand life has dealt us; with hard work, and discipline, and dedication, we can make it if we try.

That’s not just the American Dream. That is the Olympic spirit. It’s the essence of the Olympic spirit. That’s why we see so much of ourselves in these Games. That’s why we want them in Chicago. That’s why we want them in America.

The President, who rarely has a nice thing to say about the United States when speaking to foreigners, based his presentation on selling the United States brand. No wonder it didn't work. The delegates probably remember President Obama's European Apology Tour and apology speech at the UN. You can't tear us down repeatedly, and then try to repackage the damaged brand when convenient to direct money to your political friends.

I know it's not entirely fair to quote from comments, but the very first comment on the Think Progress post must be quoted because it is a classic of the genre that all that befalls Obama is Bush's fault:

"Make no mistake, Chicago getting the fewest votes is part of the ongoing legacy of George W. Bush."

"I'm still in a state of shock. I can't believe we couldn't get past the first round. I still thought the (Chicago) bid overall was the best," said three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines.

"Maybe there is some hangover from politics, from the last eight years," Gaines said.

Senator Rowland Burris of Illinois, the Senator who was appointed to fill President Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, blames George Bush for Chicago not getting theOlympics in 2016. Burris stated in an interview, shortly after the announcement, that the image of the U. S. has been so tarnished in the last 8 years that, even Barack Obama making an unprecedented pitch for the games could not overcome the hatred the world has for us as a result of George Bush.

"Why do Repingofascists like Bill Bennett, Dennis Miller, Sean Manatee and the rest of those jackals hate America? Its bad enough these Cheney-wipes are committing treason they are piling it on further in their hatred of an American city solely so they can gloat about an alleged Obama failure. What the Repignofascist mouthpieces can’t accept is that their philosophy LOST last November and that a majority of American’s no longer buy their hate-filled speech and their disdain for the country they allegedly love.

Again, why do Repignofascists hate America?"

---

Ok,...

"a majority of American’s no longer buy their hate-filled speech"

"repignofascists"?

but we're traiters who wallow in hate speech?

I take it there are few at unthinking progress that can comprehend irony, or self parody. What a pack of rocket scientists they are, oooooohhhhh OBVIOUSLY!, it was Bush's fault.

The level of dishonesty mated to that much dysfunction much really suck.

I need a laugh at something that'll "make blood shoot out of their eyes", when a liberal sees it. THe more they hate us, the crazier they get, the funnier it becomes. They are driving independents away by the millions and have no clue why.

Have got to thinking about some lovely ladies I met when in the USA. There is one in particular, a woman that I instinctively liked (maybe being a knitter had something to do with it) but she was an Obot....

The reason for the reflection is that I cannot help but think of the way in which some of these white women have adopted a head in the sand attitude with regards to the man who has a resume that could fit on a postage stamp. What is on my mind is the mantra of ..... he had a mess to clean up... just wait and see.... and there is that glaze in the eyes..... Maybe this particular failure will help to remove that glazed look from the eyes of so many who allowed themselves to be beguiled by a man who is a charlatan.

Now I do think it is funny that the Chicago bid turned out to be the worst. I see it as a positive sign for the USA that the bid was lost.

Australia hosted in the Olympics in Melbourne in 1956 when I was 2 years old. Prior to the event Russia invaded the Czech Republic. In the pool in Melbourne the water polo turned into a bit of a blood sport which was a direct result of the events in the Czech Republic....

We did not get that opportunity again until 1983 when Sydney was named to be the host of the 2000 Olympics. The event went off without a hitch.... or so it seemed.... I guess the counter-terrorist squad did their job.....

The Olympics have not been in a city such as Rio De Janeiro, but the USA has hosted the Olympics on many occasions. I think that it is good that a country in South America gets to showcase what they can do for once.........

Also, I am glad that the IOC was not bowled over by the pathetic attempt to use the powers of persuasion by an empty suit and emperor with no clothes....

You can't deny that George W. B*sh was hated in practically every corner of the earth. If anyone damaged the United States "brand", it's the guy who turned the US into a warmongering, torturing nation.

But I don't think this is why Chicago lost its bid. I think the IOC wanted to give it to a South American city for the first time in its history. It's about time.

Chicago didn't get the 2016 Olympics for one reason, and that is Barack Hussein Obama is an incompetent boob--end of story. He botched this just like he's botched everything so far, and like he's going to botch everything for the next three years...

Chicago didn't get the 2016 Olympics for one reason, and that is Barack Hussein Obama is an incompetent boob--end of story. He botched this just like he's botched everything so far, and like he's going to botch everything for the next three years...

By the way jasperjava, Obama botched it. They sent him packing FIRST. Everyone was expecting it to come down to Chicago and Rio, and Chicago was taken out of the mix first. Obama lined up the ball on the five yard line, and he hooked it into the crowd. He whiffed on a 60 mph fastball. He rimmed out a three inch putt. He missed an uncontested layup. There can be just one reason why this happened, and it's because Obama is an incompetent boob. No amount of spin can lessen that fact.

I don't understand, it makes no sense! The president got up and said I I I I I I, Michelle got up and said me me me me me me, why werent the judges overcome with emotion? How could anyone resist the charm of the chosen one? They must be a bunch of racists. Yea, that's it, they are racist! No, wait, maybe it is Bush's fault. Yea, lets blame it on Bush!

I think both the Obama's speeches especially Michelle's were ridiculously soppy & was an embarrassment to the USA. The meer fact that they came to beg was demeaning. I'm glad Chicago lost. The people of Brazil and Rio De Janeiro are truly grateful for the opportunity, while the arrogant Obama's felt it was their right to get the games. The Obama's egocentrism & narcissism was clearly on display in Copenhagen. Again our naive president has made fool of himself and the USA. On second thought, he has made of fool of himself. Let this be the beginning of Obama's political end.

"Chicago didn't get the 2016 Olympics for one reason, and that is Barack Hussein Obama is an incompetent boob--end of story."

Really? Rio de Janeiro didn't have anything to do with it? Wow.You're right. Rio has nothing going for it. South America doesn't deserve to host the Games for the first time in 120 years of modern Olympic history. It's all about how much everybody hates Obama as much as you do. Right.

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